AMES, Iowa -- Iowa State University's College of Agriculture and
College of Veterinary Medicine indefinitely postponed summer 1999
study abroad programs in China on Monday, May 10.

The programs were postponed in response to a travel warning issued
by the U.S. Department of State following the bombing of the
People's Republic of China embassy in Belgrade by NATO-coalition
forces. According to the warning issued May 9, "the U.S.
Department of State strongly urges American citizens to defer
travel to the P.R.C. until the situation stabilizes."

The College of Agriculture's ISU China Study Abroad Program was
scheduled to depart this Wednesday and includes 22 students, two
faculty and two alumni. The Study of Veterinary Acupuncture in
China was scheduled to depart this Friday and includes 25 students
and three faculty members.

The decision to postpone the programs was made after consideration
of relevant information from the U.S. Department of State, media
and local sources in the U.S. and China, and partner institutions
in the P.R.C.

"The primary concern for ISU in this decision is the safety of the
students," said John Kluge, director of International Education
Programs for the College of Veterinary Medicine.

The decision was made by the administrations of the Colleges of
Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine in collaboration with the
Study Abroad Center, faculty coordinating the programs, and
faculty from the department of foreign languages and literatures.

No other ISU study abroad programs are being considered for
postponement at this time. According to U.S. State Department
Travel Advisories, there is no indication that U.S. citizens
traveling abroad should defer travel to any other destination as a
result of the situation in China.

The colleges will make every effort to reschedule the programs to
China. Students will be contacted directly by the program leaders
to determine the best option for providing a safe and academically
viable alternative to the postponed program.

Further information about the agriculture program is available
from David Acker, director of International Programs for the
College of Agriculture, at (515) 294-8454. Information about the
veterinary medicine program is available from John Kluge, director
of International Education Programs for the College of Veterinary
Medicine, at (515) 294-1246. Information about study abroad
programs outside of China is available from Michelle Szabo, Study
Abroad Center, at (515) 294-6792.